Hackney’s Anthony Yarde has targeted a future showdown with fellow British light-heavyweight rival Joshua Buatsi after coming through his comeback against Ralfs Vilcans at the Copper Box Arena.

The 33-year-old, who defeated Serbian Marko Nikolic in February and was then involved in a contractual dispute with long-time paymaster Frank Warren, clinched a fairly comfortable 10-round 98-92 points decision.

Yarde, who during his 29-fight career has fought for the world light-heavyweight title against Russian Sergey Kovalev (the then WBO title holder) and Canada’s reigning undisputed champion Artur Beterbiev, decked Latvia-based Vilcans with a right hand after five seconds and from there went the full distance with less trouble.

After improving to 26-3 in his first contest under Ben Shalom’s BOXXER promotion he told Sky Sports: "I've fought at the top of the mountain but sometimes who is put in front of you might bring out the best version of you.

“In my career I've had very little experience of doing long rounds. Usually when I hit someone the fight is done. The worst thing that could have happened was me dropping him in the first round. Then I got content that I could knock out this guy but it's all experience.

"This is a last-minute opponent. Maybe mentally I got a bit complacent here but I would have to turn up for Joshua Buatsi. But it’s not just Joshua Buatsi. There's Dan Azeez (who on the same bill failed to regain the British and Commonwealth titles against Lewis Edmondson), Craig Richards, so many names in this British scene.

"I've fought twice at world level. Before Dmitry Bivol I gave Artur Beterbiev his hardest fight. There's fights out there, but Josh Buatsi is one of the fights I want personally."

Fellow Hackney resident Ohara Davies looks set to end his boxing career after his brutal defeat to Slough’s European super-lightweight title-holder Adam Azim.

The 32-year-old, who suffered his fourth loss in 29 outings, was knocked out in the eighth round and told Sky Sports it was time to call it a day.

"I've had my time in the sport of boxing,” he said. “I've been a pro for over ten years now. I started boxing in Hackney and I think this might be the end of my boxing career. I think I might finish my boxing career in the same London Borough of Hackney where I started it.

"I feel like you have to know when your time is done. You don't want to stay in this sport for too long and take too much. I'm fit. I've still got my faculties but I think this might be the end of my boxing career and I'm glad it was against Adam Azim.

"Adam will go far in the sport of boxing. I done my thing, but you know what? It's time for the young gun Adam to make his name and be up there.”